Bacha Khan University to reopen February 15

Security tightened; boundary walls of the university have been raised, watch towers also erected for security guards

SHABQADAR: Bacha Khan University (BKU) is set to reopen February 15. This was decided in the security review committee meeting held at BKU on Friday.

The meeting was chaired by BKU Vice Chancellor Fazal Raheem Marwat. Charsadda DPO Suhail Khalid, DSP Raza Muhammad, Director for Administration Dr Shakeel Khan and others were present in the meeting. Discussing the meeting to The Express Tribune, Saeed Khan Khalil, the university’s media and public relations officer, said the committee visited the university and checked security arrangements.



Above and beyond

“Later, a meeting of the committee was held to discuss the observations. The decision to open the varsity was then taken,” Khalil said. He added the boundary walls of the university have been raised as directed by security agencies.

“CCTV cameras and their centralised system have also been improved; watch towers have been erected for security guards; and local police will provide security to the university,” Khalil told The Express Tribune. He also said the university plans to hire more security guards. The ones presently employed will be trained to improve their skills.

A new address

Saeed said earlier, Higher Education Commission had proposed the university should shift to a safer place near the motorway where the university has property. “However, that requires a lot of time and money, and the HEC cannot arrange such a large amount at this time,” he said.

It was decided the university would continue its routine activities at the present campus in Charsadda, and if needed, it will build new departments in the proposed place.



Psychological rehabilitation

When asked about mental health help being provided to students following the January 20 attack on the varsity, the VC told The Express Tribune the university administration plans to hire a mental health specialist to help students deal with the trauma of the incident. “A tour for the students will also be arranged, just like those at Army Public School following the December 16, 2014 seige,” he said.

BKU was attacked on January 20. Investigation revealed four terrorists were involved and 22 people, including students, faculty members and other staff, were killed. Later, the university opened for a day on January 25 and was shut down for operations afterwards.

The K-P government later formed an enquiry committee to investigate the incident, which held the VC and the director for administration responsible for negligence in providing fool-proof security to the varsity. However, the verdict of the committee was rejected by the university administration.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th,  2016.